लेबनान – आवारा मुसाफिर

Heat of climate change in a sacred forest and valley

December 7, 2023703 Views

Majestic cedar trees towered over dozens of Lebanese Christians gathered outside a small mid-19th century chapel hidden in a mountain forest to celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration, the miracle where Jesus Christ, on a mountaintop, shined with light before his disciples. The sunset’s yellow light coming through the cedar branches bathed the leader of Lebanon’s Maronite Church, Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, as he stood at a wooden podium and delivered a sermon. Then the gathering sang hymns in Arabic and the Aramaic language. For Lebanon’s Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain’s harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon’s cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. The trees are a symbol of Lebanon, pictured at t...

खबरनामाघटनाएंलेबनान

Lebanon’s Baalbek festival back, despite economic collapse

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

July 18, 2022377 Views

Lebanon’s renowned Baalbek festival is back, held in front of a live audience for the first time since 2019, despite the country’s economic meltdown and the coronavirus pandemic. French pianist Simon Ghraichy performed in front of a full house on Sunday night in what organizers described as a night of hope for Lebanon’s revival. The annual festival in the ancient northeastern city of soaring Roman columns has long attracted celebrities from around the world. French Pianist Simon Ghraichy performs next to French-Iranian dancer Rana Gorgani during a concert in the ancient northeastern city of Baalbek, Lebanon, Sunday, July 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) It had taken a major hit as a result of Lebanon’s ongoing, nearly 3-year economic crisis and the pandemic, which had forced org...

खबरनामाघटनाएंलेबनान

Lebanon’s music festivals make modest comeback after crisis

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

July 11, 2022752 Views

Lebanon's international music festivals kicked off at the weekend with a performance in the Roman ruins of Baalbek, the first performance there since the country's economic crisis. Under the title of "Baalbek Nights Return," conductor Lubnan Baalbaki – whose first name means "Lebanon" and whose last name means "from Baalbek" - led the orchestra on Friday night alongside his sister, singer Soumaya. Lebanese singer Soumaya Baalbaki and conductor Lubnan Baalbaki perform at the Roman temple of Bacchus, during the opening of Baalbeck International Festival, in Baalbeck, Lebanon July 8, 2022. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah The country once held several music festivals every summer, drawing international acts every weekend. This year, the modest reopenings feature almost exclusively Lebanese pe...

खबरनामाघटनाएंलेबनान

Skiing in Lebanon getting too steep for most

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

February 21, 2022712 Views

Skiing in Lebanon has long been a luxury for the well-off, but the eastern Mediterranean country's financial meltdown has thrown most people into poverty and made taking to the slopes even more exclusive. The Lebanese pound has lost more than 90% of its value since 2019. "Skiing is a hobby for the dollar class, not for us," said Mohammad Atwi on a recent visit to the mountains. "We came here to sit and have shisha. The most we spend is 200,000 pounds ($10)." A man holds a child's hand as he walks through snow with ski equipment at a ski resort in Kfardebian, Lebanon, February 13, 2022. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah Prices for ski passes at the Mzaar ski resort, which boasts panoramic views over the Mediterranean, are listed in dollars in a country where the vast majority earn in poun...